How do you tighten a 12 Ga. pattern?

Bake · December 27, 2012, 02:07 AM

Is anyone familiar with how shotgun shells were reloaded before shotguns had adjustable or interchangeable chokes? I have a BT 99 with a fixed choke (I.Mod.) and would like to tighten it up some. The I.M. choke is good at 16yds.,but not so good at the 21 yd line.

kraigwy · December 27, 2012, 10:36 AM

Work with different wads and pressure seating the wads.

Primers also make a difference.

With shotguns I've found it easy to match the loads to your existing barrel.

Okcafe86 · December 27, 2012, 10:43 AM

I'd just buy a different barrel...perhaps a threaded one. Can you actually do that on this model?

243winxb · December 27, 2012, 11:27 AM

Use #8 Magnum shot. Harder shot deforms less. The rounder pellet gives tighter patterns. Use the maximum weight/amount of shot allowed 1 1/8 oz. Magnum shot will weigh less than standard shot, the shot bushing can be adjusted to drop a full 1 1/8 oz, resulting in a higher pellet count. If your load is 1200 fps, the pattern will get tighter with less velocity like 1145fps. A slower burn rate powder that gives the same velocity may deform pellets less. For 27yds, you will need 1200 fps to keep the same lead used at 16yds. Larger 7 1/2 shot will deform less then #8, but will leave holes in the pattern. If all else fails, plastic buffer may be place in with the shot. http://carneyro.dot5hosting.com/page9.html

BigD_in_FL · December 27, 2012, 02:36 PM

The IM SHOULD be fine at 21; that being said, you might want to consider having the barrel threaded for choke tubes, assuming you have already been to the pattern board for exact results.........

December 27, 2012, 02:07 AM	#1
Bake Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2012 Location: San Joaquin Valley, Calif. Posts: 482	How do you tighten a 12 Ga. pattern? Is anyone familiar with how shotgun shells were reloaded before shotguns had adjustable or interchangeable chokes? I have a BT 99 with a fixed choke (I.Mod.) and would like to tighten it up some. The I.M. choke is good at 16yds.,but not so good at the 21 yd line.

December 27, 2012, 10:36 AM	#2
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	Work with different wads and pressure seating the wads. Primers also make a difference. With shotguns I've found it easy to match the loads to your existing barrel. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

December 27, 2012, 10:43 AM	#3
Okcafe86 Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2012 Posts: 102	I'd just buy a different barrel...perhaps a threaded one. Can you actually do that on this model? __________________ PRIDE RUNS DEEP US NAVY SILENT SERVICE MM2/SS A-GANG/LOWER LEVEL MAFIA Last edited by Okcafe86; December 27, 2012 at 10:50 AM.

December 27, 2012, 11:27 AM	#4
243winxb Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,730	Use #8 Magnum shot. Harder shot deforms less. The rounder pellet gives tighter patterns. Use the maximum weight/amount of shot allowed 1 1/8 oz. Magnum shot will weigh less than standard shot, the shot bushing can be adjusted to drop a full 1 1/8 oz, resulting in a higher pellet count. If your load is 1200 fps, the pattern will get tighter with less velocity like 1145fps. A slower burn rate powder that gives the same velocity may deform pellets less. For 27yds, you will need 1200 fps to keep the same lead used at 16yds. Larger 7 1/2 shot will deform less then #8, but will leave holes in the pattern. If all else fails, plastic buffer may be place in with the shot. http://carneyro.dot5hosting.com/page9.html Last edited by 243winxb; December 27, 2012 at 11:39 AM.

December 27, 2012, 02:36 PM	#5
BigD_in_FL Junior member Join Date: December 20, 2012 Location: The "Gunshine State" Posts: 1,981	The IM SHOULD be fine at 21; that being said, you might want to consider having the barrel threaded for choke tubes, assuming you have already been to the pattern board for exact results.........